Bed Poudel promoted to research professor

Penn State announces non-tenure-line faculty promotions, effective July 1, 2022.

Bed Poudel, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences, has been promoted to research professor.

Associate Vice President for Research Priya to depart Penn State

Shashank Priya, associate vice president for research and director of strategic initiatives in the Office of the Senior Vice President for Research (OSVPR), has been named vice president for research at the University of Minnesota and will conclude his tenure at Penn State on Sept. 29.

Nanoparticles increase light scattering, boost solar cell performance

As demand for solar energy rises around the world, scientists are working to improve the performance of solar devices — important if the technology is to compete with traditional fuels. But researchers face theoretical limits on how efficient they can make solar cells.

Ultrahigh piezoelectric performance demonstrated in ceramic materials

The ability of piezoelectric materials to convert mechanical energy into electrical energy and vice versa makes them useful for various applications from robotics to communication to sensors. A new design strategy for creating ultrahigh-performing piezoelectric ceramics opens the door to even more beneficial uses for these materials, according to a team of researchers from Penn State and Michigan Technological University.